Two individuals who previously organized Hong Kong’s annual vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown were found guilty in a national security case on Friday. Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were convicted under the China-imposed national security law, signaling a blow to the city’s pro-democracy movement. The duo faced charges of inciting subversion in 2021 and could potentially face up to 10 years in prison. The alliance, as an entity, was also held accountable for the offense.
According to the three judges presiding over the case, the alliance’s advocacy to “end one-party dictatorship” was interpreted as an attempt to undermine the leading position of the ruling Communist Party under the constitution, rather than a call for returning to a multi-party system. The judges emphasized that the term “end” in the statement implied actions of “overthrowing” and “undermining,” which violated the security law by challenging the party’s leadership role mandated by the constitution.
The verdict is part of a series of legal actions targeting Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, which has faced significant suppression by both local and Chinese authorities. The annual candlelight vigil organized by the alliance, which used to attract tens of thousands of participants honoring the Tiananmen Square victims, was discontinued in 2020 due to pandemic restrictions, just before the enforcement of the security law.
Lee and Chow, upon leaving the courtroom, acknowledged the public gallery with smiles and waves, awaiting sentencing at a later date. Observers view their trial as emblematic of the diminishing freedom of expression in Hong Kong since its handover to China in 1997. The judges reserved the detailed explanation of the conviction for an online release.
The trial proceedings, originally anticipated to span 75 days, concluded swiftly in 24 days. Albert Ho, another defendant in the case, had previously pleaded guilty, possibly aiming for a reduced sentence. Lee and Chow plan to appeal for reduced penalties in a subsequent hearing, alongside Ho.
Critics have raised concerns about the erosion of civil liberties in Hong Kong, with the crackdown on dissenting voices escalating under the national security law. The conviction of the alliance members adds to the list of prominent activists and figures imprisoned under the law, highlighting the shrinking space for political dissent in the region.